Fight at Jam critically injures local woman
LIVE OAK, Fla. — A fight at the Suwannee River Jam on Friday ended with a Suwannee County woman being life-flighted to Shands at the University of Florida in serious condition.
According to Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St. John, Loretta Thomas and Cynthia Lynn Craven, of Callahan, were at the Jam together when the two started fighting around 2 a.m. At some point during the fight, Craven’s husband Richard became involved, St. John said.
Based on witness statements, surveillance footage and the injuries Thomas received, one or both of the Cravens used a broken glass bottle to strike Thomas multiple times in the face, causing deep lacerations consistent with being stabbed, according to a SCSO report.
Her injuries were life threatening and did cause permanent disfigurement, the report states.
St. John said it is still unclear who did what damage to the victim during the fight.
While the victim was being life flighted to Shands, deputies spoke with the Cravens at their campsite and got their statement. After deputies had enough information about what happened for a warrant, the Cravens had left the site, St. John said.
The deputy working the case managed to contact Cynthia by phone and inform her there was a warrant out for her arrest. After Cynthia spoke with her lawyer, she turned herself in to SCSO, according to St. John.
The SCSO is still looking for Richard Allen Craven. There is an active warrant out for his arrest.
Thomas is currently in stable condition at Shands, St. John said. She has undergone multiple surgeries, but will most likely need more, he said.